Oh No

I did not think there was anything seriously wrong with me, I felt fine. I just had a lump in my groin that did not go away. I did not want to have it taken out until I knew what it was, even though my doctor thought I should have it removed immediately. Thank goodness I did not, since it turned out to be rather extensive surgery. I had 18 lymph nodes in my groin and pelvis removed. The main one and the adjacent ones had melanoma cells. The rest were clean.

Oh No

I was in a medicare advantage plan. It did not want to refer me for treatment. Three weeks of runaround. It took my mind off the diagnosis because I was fighting the insurance people. I ended up leaving the plan and going to straight medicare and paying the 20%. I haven't seen the bills yet, but I will pay whatever they are so my treatment can continue.

Procedure or Surgery

I was hospitalized for 4 days and in bed for about a week there after. I am now 7 weeks post op. I am living my normal busy life and feeling stronger every day. I do have significant lymphadema and just started treatment for that.

After a great deal of back and forth and frustration from the oncologist I dropped out of the clinical trial. I was put into the interferon side and could not in good faith give up a year of my life for a very uncertain result. I decided to instead wait for another trial or just take care of myself emotionally and spritually and physically. I feel good about my decision. I had the now diagnosed melanoma for about 20 years, but no one thought it was anything to be concerned about. Can you imagine I was diagnosed this year as Stage #3 malignant melanoma after all this time carrying the disease...